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Making college more affordable

From grants to scholarships and more, Ohio State has ways to help students pay for school.

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Congratulations! You’re starting to round out high school and looking at what comes next — and where that “next” will be. How much will an undergraduate degree cost? Is it even worth it?

According to Matthew Mayhew, a researcher in Ohio State’s College of Education and Human Ecology, the rate of return on a college education during the 2000s was between 12 and 14 percent. Simply put: it’s worth the cost.

But how do you pay for higher education now? Ohio State offers a number of ways to make college more affordable for incoming students. Here are just a few ways the university is working to make a college degree more affordable.

Eliminating fees

Ohio State approved an affordability package that will help students save up to $1.9 million a year. The four-prong initiative eliminates 278 course fees; provides steep discounts on digital textbooks; waives costs when students take additional credit hours to complete their degrees, accept internships or conduct research; and extends in-state tuition to more military families.

The Ohio State Tuition Guarantee

The university has frozen tuition and fees for each incoming class of first-year students for four years.

Full tuition for Pell families

Starting in the fall of 2018, the university will cover any remaining tuition up to the full cost for all Ohio students who qualify for Pell Grants.

Increasing need-based aid

Ohio State is dedicated to increasing financial aid and scholarships. For the 2018-19 school year, the university has dedicated $40 million to need-based aid.

Reduced summer tuition

Leading the conversation

Ohio State helped establish the American Talent Initiative, which is a collaboration of more than 80 schools around the country. Through outreach and more need-based financial aid, this program aims to increase the number of low-income students in higher education.